Cutter mechanism for harvesters.



I N0. 679,2l3. Patented July 23, I901.

' T. 8. BROWN.

CUTTER MECHANISM FOR HABVESTERS.

(Application filed Oct. 4, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheoi l.

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No. 679,2l3. Patented My 23, 190i. T. 8. BROWN.

CUTTER MECHANISM FOR HABVESTERS.

A lication filed Oct. 4, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Ni'rn STATES THOMAS STUART BROWN, OF POUGI-IKEEPSIE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTO ADRIANOE, PLATT & COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CUTTER MECHANISM FOR HARVESTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,213, dated July 23,1901.

Application filed October 4,1900. Serial No. 31,992. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LTHoMAs STUART BROWN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cutter Mechanismfor Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of cutter mechanisms for mowers,harvesters, and similar machines which contain a reciprocatingcutter-bar arranged at right angles to the line of draft and providedwith cutter sections or blades which have two forwardly-convergingcutting edges and which cooperate with stationary cutters on theguard-fingers, over which the reciprocating sections move back andforth. In this class of machinesthe cutter-bar receives itsreciprocating motion by a pitman from a crank-shaft which is arranged ata considerable height above the level of the cutter-bar. at aconsiderably greater angle to the cutterbar while the crank movesthrough the upper half of its revolution than while it moves through thelower half. This causes the cutter mechanism to be less effective duringthe upper half of the revolution of the crank, partly by reason of theless effective angle of the pitman and partly by reason of the greaterfrictional resistance of the cutter-bar in its ways resulting therefrom.When the crank moves outwardly during the upper half of its revolutionthe crank isless effective during the outward stroke of the cutter-barthan during the inward stroke. When the crank moves inwardly during theupper part of its revolution the crank is less effective during theinward stroke. For these reasons the power required for performing thecut is unequal on the outward and inward strokes. My inventioncompensates for this difference in the action of the cutter mechanismduring the outward and inward strokes by making the angle of the cuttingedges of each section smaller or less steep, and therefore longer, onthe less effective side of the sections than on the more effective side,at the same time preserving the same angle of cut on each side. Thisincreases or enhances the cutting action on the less effective side ofthe reciprocating sections and renders The pitman therefore stands thepower required for performing the cutting action substantially alike onthe outward and inward strokes. In order to prevent any unequal cuttingaction by reason of these differently-inclined cutting edges on thereciprocating sections, the stationary cutting edges on theguard-fingers are also arranged at unequal angles and in such mannerthat they form like cutting angles with the two edges of thereciprocating sections, and in order that the guard-fingers may properlyenter and divide the standing grass or grain the axial line of the pointof each finger is arranged par allel with the line of draft or at rightangles to the front of the finger-bar.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l-is afront elevation of a mower provided with my improved cutting mechanism.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top planview,

on an enlarged scale, of the inner portion of the cutter-bar andconnecting parts. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical longitudinal sections inlines 4 4 and 5 5, Fig. 3, respectively. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one ofthe reciprocating sections or blades. stationary cutters or blades whichare secured to the guard-fingers. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one ofthe guard-fingers. Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the wheeled frame of a mower; B, the crank-wheel by whichthe cutter-bar is actuated; h, the crank-pin thereof; 0, the pitmanconnecting the crank-pin with the knuckle don the reciprocatingcutter-bar D; E, the finger-bar, which is arranged at right angles tothe line of draft, as Well as the cuttor-bar, and F the inner shoe. Allof these parts may be of any suitable or well-known construction.

Grepresents the cutter sections, knives, or blades, which are secured tothe upper side of the cutter-bar, as usual. These sections have theusual triangular configuration; but instead of having the twoforwardly-converging cutting edges 9 g of each section arranged at thesame angle to the base 9 the cutting edge g on the less effective sideof the section is arranged at a smaller or less steep angle Fig. 7 is aplan view of one of the than the cutting edge g" on the more efiectiveside. This renders the cutting edge on the less effective side longerthan that-on the more effective side of the section and enhances orfacilitates proportionately the cutting action on the less effectiveside, whereby the detrimental effect of the greater angle of V thepitman during the less effective. stroke is compensated for and thecutting action is rendered practically uniform on both the outward andinward strokes. When the crankpin moves outwardly during the upper halfof its revolution, in which case the pitman is least effectiveon itsoutward stroke, the outer cutting edge of each section is made longerand less steep than the inner edge, as shown in the drawings. When thecrank-pin moves inwardly during the upper half of its revolution, thearrangement of the cutting edges is reversed, the inner edge being madelonger and less steep than the outer edge.

H. represents the guard-fingers, which are secured to the finger-bar andproject forwardly therefrom. I represents the stationary cutter-blades,whichare securedto these guard-fingers, as usual, and over which thereciprocating sections Gr move back and forth. Each of thesefinger-blades has its axial'line arranged at an oblique angle laterallyto its baseandhas its two cutting edges arranged at unequal, angles. Thecutting edge i'of each finger-blade, which lies on the side of thebladetoward which the axial line of the blade is deflected, is so muchsteeper than the other-edge t" that these two edges form like cuttingangles with the two unequallyinclined cutting'edges g g of the adjacentreciprocating blades G, with which they cooperate. In order to properlysupport this laterally-deflected finger-blade, the body 77. of theguardfinger, upon which the finger-blade is secured, is similarlydeflectedlaterally, so as to lean inwardly, as shown, if the inwardstroke is the more effective stroke and outwardly if the arrangement ofthe cutting edges is reversed. The point h of the guard: finger whichstands in frontof its laterally.- deflected body is arranged with itsaxial line parallel with the line of draft or at right angles to thefront of the finger-bar, so that'it enters the standing grass or grainstraight in the line of draft and divides the same properlyonboth sides.

Each finger-blade I'is provided at its front,

end, as usual, with a tenon it, which enters a recess in the finger, andthe rear end of each ofthese blades is arranged, as usual, with itsbeveled corners between shoulders at the inner endsof the laterally-projecting arms h of the. guard-finger and is secured by a rivet Instead offorming the stationary cutting which extendsrrearwardly from the bodyIt" and is secured to the finger-bar, is also-ariing the cutter-bar.

horizontal plane from the axial line of the shank to that of the point.

The shank or palm h of each guard-finger is secured to the finger-bar,on the lower side thereof, by an y suitable means-for instance,

a bolt L. Some of these bolts serve at the same time to secure the usualbuttons M,

which are applied at intervals to the upper side of the finger-bar forguiding and confin- These bolts are correspondingly longer than thebolts which do not pass through such buttons.

N represents the usual wear-plates, which are arranged between thefinger-bar and the buttons M' and against which the cutter-bar bearswith its rear side.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a cutter-bar and afinger-bar arrangedat right angles to-the line of draft, anactuating-crank arranged higher than the cutter-bar, and a pitmanconnecting said crank with the cutter-bar, of

Icutter-sectionssecured to said reciprocating.

cutter-bar and having unequally-inclined cut ting edges, the edge on theless effective side of the section being arranged at a smaller angle tothe base of the section than that on the more effective side,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a cutter-bar and a finger-bar arranged at rightangles to the line of draft, an actuating-crank arranged higher than thecutter-bar, and a pitman 0011-, necting said crank with the cutter-bar,of cutter-sections secured to said reciprocating cutter-bar and havingunequally-inclined cnt= ting edges, the edge on the less effective sidehigher than the cutter-bar, of cutter-sections secured to saidcuttenbarand havingun equally-inclined cutting edges, the edge on the lesseffective side of the section beingarranged at a smaller angle than thaton the more efiective side, and guard-fingers having.

their bodies arranged obliquely, in ahorizontal-plane to the finger-bar,and their.

points arranged parallel with the lineof draft, substantially as setforth.

at. The combination with a cutter-bar and a finger-bar arranged at rightangles to the.

line of draft, and an actuating mechanism for reciprocating thecutter-bar arranged higher than the cutter-bar, of cutter-sectionssecured to said cutter-bar and ,havingun equally-inclined cutting edges,the edge on the less effective side of the section being arranged at asmaller angle than that on the more effective side, and guard-fingershaving their bodies arranged obliquely, in a horizontal plane, to thefinger-bar and provided with unequallyinclined cutting edges arranged toform like cutting angles on both sides of each finger and their pointsarranged parallel with the line of draft, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the finger-bar, of a guard-finger having itspoint and its palm arranged at right angles to the finger-bar andlaterally out of line and having its body extending obliquely from thepalm to the point, substantially as set forth.

6. A guard-finger having the axial lines of its point and its palmarranged parallel to each other and laterally out of line and having itsbody extending obliquely from the palm to the point, substantially asset forth.

7. A guard-finger having the axial. lines of its point and its palmarranged parallel to each other and laterally out of line and having itsbody extending obliquely from the palm to the point and provided withcutting edges which are arranged at unequal angles, substantially assetforth.

8. A finger-blade having its axial line arranged at an oblique angle,laterally, to its base and. having its two cutting edges arranged atunequal angles, the cutting edge on the side toward which the axial lineis de fieoted being arranged at a steeper angle than that on the otherside of the blade, substan tially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 2d day of October, 1900.

THOS. STUART BRO \VN.

Witnesses:

HOWARD A. SOMERS, TUNIs AOKERMAN.

